The Gazette

Battle of Jutland casualty database published

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth have published a naval casualty database, the most comprehensive record of men who died in the 36 hour Battle of Jutland that
took over 6,000 British lives.

The database includes 6,102 names, and details vital personal information, such as
the service person’s name, ship, rank, service number, date and place of birth.

It also includes the name and address of their next of kin, as recorded by the Admiralty
or the Commonwealth War Graves Rolls, or if unfound, their address via probate or
1911 Census records.

History researcher, Dr Melanie Bassett, said: “We have traced every Royal Naval sailor
killed at the battle, which has allowed us to understand how the naval war affected
society, where sailor families lived and the long-term effects of the war.

“We’re reaching out to the public to ask for help because there is still missing
data and we want to ensure all the men who lost their lives are represented.

“The aim of the project is to provide a new perspective on the battle by mapping the
human cost of Jutland and its impact on the communities of the 6,102 men lost.

“It has been easier to find information about the next of kin for those in ordinary
ranks, but not for mid-shipmen, who were usually only 15-16 years old, or for commissioned
officers. We’d like further insight into the lives of those sailors who were lost
at sea and then lost in history too.”

The battle, which took place on 31 May 1916, changed the course of the war because
it diminished the German naval fleet’s capabilities to such an extent that they couldn’t
fight at sea again while the war lasted.

All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. However, please note that this
licence does not cover the re-use of personal data. If you are interested
in linking to this website please read our Linking Policy.